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Dortmund vs. Bayern: The biggest match of the Bundesliga season

Every season Bundesliga fans all over the world look forward to "Der Klassiker," between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. We look back at some memorable moments from the rivalry between these Bundesliga giants.

A cut above

In recent years Bayern have been a fair bit better than everybody else in the Bundesliga, including Dortmund. This season, Bayern look set to win the league easily and go into Saturday's match with a 15-point lead over BVB in fourth. However, Dortmund have a history of being able to get one up on their - and handed Bayern their first of just two defeats in the league this season.

Veteran talent

With players such as 33-year-old Arjen Robben (left) and 34-year-old Franck Ribery (right), Bayern have a wealth of both talent and experience. Among the other veteras are Xavi Alonso (35), Phillip Lahm (33), Rafinha (31) and Manuel Neuer (31). However, national team keeper Neuer isn't expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Young talent

While Bayern get continue to get older, Dortmund keep getting younger. Among their most promising young stars are Ousmane Dembele (19), Raphael Guerreiro (23) and Christian Pulisic (18).

A contrast in style

At 57, Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti has pretty much seen it all and it takes a lot to make hime lose his cool on the touchline. However, his Dortmund counterpart, Thomas Tuchel, who is 14 years his junior, is often extremely animated during a game - perhaps frustrated by mistakes that are bound to occur when one fields such a young, if very talented team.

Bitter rivalry turns civil

For years the sporting rivalry between these two clubs extended to a bitter one between their respective boardrooms. In past years the run-up to "Der Klassiker" included public jibes between executives from both sides. Recently, though Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (left) and his Dortmund counterpart, Hans-Joachim Watzke (right), seem to have buried the hachet.

Bayern dominate in vain

The last German Cup clash between the two teams came in the semifinals in April 2015. Bayern dominated the match, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in the 74th minute to take the match into extra time. Dortmund, who finished the game a man down after Kevin Kampl was given a second yellow card, won a dramatic penalty shootout.

All-German final at Wembley

Bayern Munich took the biggest-ever prize that the two teams have done battle for. Arjen Robben scored the winner as Bayern beat Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League final at Wembley in 2013.

On the way to the treble

Robben also scored the winner as Bayern beat Dortmund 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the German Cup in 2013. Bayern would go on to win the competition, completing the treble.

Changing of the guard?

Dortmund won the 2012 Cup final, beating Bayern 5-2 to complete the double. At the time, some thought this was a sign that BVB were about to take over from Bayern as Germany's top team. However, this impression didn't last for very long.

Clean sheet

Jan Koller was actually a striker, but in November 2002, the Czech national team player was pressed into action between the sticks. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off after Dortmund had used up all of their subs. Koller kept a clean sheet, stopping a powerful shot from Michael Ballack. Depite his heroics, Bayern won 2-1.

Meeting of the minds

The rivalry between the teams has often been heated. Munich's Brazilian striker Giovane Elber (left) was usually quite laid back. However, agent provocateur Jens Lehmann even managed to get under his skin. Just before this meeting of the minds, the Dortmund goalkeeper had knocked Elber on his backside.

Cry me a river!

Dortmund's Andreas Möller was another guy who was good at getting under an opponent's skin - sometimes with theatrical swan dives. In this 1997 contest, Bayern's Lothar Matthäus seemed to think he was simply a crybaby.

Kung fu

No, this isn't Jackie Chan, but Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. In this match in April 1999, "King Kahn" seemed to be close to losing it as he charged way beyond his penalty area and lunged at Dortmund striker Stéphane Chapisat with an outstretched right leg. Chapuisat managed to get out of the way in the nick of time and lived to tell the tale.

Busy referee

This April 2001 match was perhaps the most heated of all the battles between two clubs. Referee Hartmut Strampe sent off two Bayern players (Bixente Lizarazu, Stefan Effenberg) and one of their Dortmund opponents (Evanilson) while issuing a total of 13 yellow cards. Between all the fouling that went on, Roque Santa Cruz and Fredi Bobic each managed to score to make it a 1-1 at the end of the 90.

How could he miss?

In August of 1986 Dortmund striker Frank Mill walked around Bayern keeper Jean-Marie Pfaff for what looked to be a certain goal. It remains a mystery to this day how he managed to miss the open goal, but he put his close-range shot off the post in a game that ended 2-2.

Müller-fueled blowout

Gerd "Der Bomber" Müller (second from left) helped lay a beating on Dortmund in November 1971, scoring four goals as Bayern won 11-1. This remains Bayern's highest margin of victory in any Bundesliga game.

A cut above

In recent years Bayern have been a fair bit better than everybody else in the Bundesliga, including Dortmund. This season, Bayern look set to win the league easily and go into Saturday's match with a 15-point lead over BVB in fourth. However, Dortmund have a history of being able to get one up on their - and handed Bayern their first of just two defeats in the league this season.

Veteran talent

With players such as 33-year-old Arjen Robben (left) and 34-year-old Franck Ribery (right), Bayern have a wealth of both talent and experience. Among the other veteras are Xavi Alonso (35), Phillip Lahm (33), Rafinha (31) and Manuel Neuer (31). However, national team keeper Neuer isn't expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Young talent

While Bayern get continue to get older, Dortmund keep getting younger. Among their most promising young stars are Ousmane Dembele (19), Raphael Guerreiro (23) and Christian Pulisic (18).

A contrast in style

At 57, Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti has pretty much seen it all and it takes a lot to make hime lose his cool on the touchline. However, his Dortmund counterpart, Thomas Tuchel, who is 14 years his junior, is often extremely animated during a game - perhaps frustrated by mistakes that are bound to occur when one fields such a young, if very talented team.

Bitter rivalry turns civil

For years the sporting rivalry between these two clubs extended to a bitter one between their respective boardrooms. In past years the run-up to "Der Klassiker" included public jibes between executives from both sides. Recently, though Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (left) and his Dortmund counterpart, Hans-Joachim Watzke (right), seem to have buried the hachet.

Bayern dominate in vain

The last German Cup clash between the two teams came in the semifinals in April 2015. Bayern dominated the match, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in the 74th minute to take the match into extra time. Dortmund, who finished the game a man down after Kevin Kampl was given a second yellow card, won a dramatic penalty shootout.

All-German final at Wembley

Bayern Munich took the biggest-ever prize that the two teams have done battle for. Arjen Robben scored the winner as Bayern beat Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League final at Wembley in 2013.

On the way to the treble

Robben also scored the winner as Bayern beat Dortmund 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the German Cup in 2013. Bayern would go on to win the competition, completing the treble.

Changing of the guard?

Dortmund won the 2012 Cup final, beating Bayern 5-2 to complete the double. At the time, some thought this was a sign that BVB were about to take over from Bayern as Germany's top team. However, this impression didn't last for very long.

Clean sheet

Jan Koller was actually a striker, but in November 2002, the Czech national team player was pressed into action between the sticks. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had been sent off after Dortmund had used up all of their subs. Koller kept a clean sheet, stopping a powerful shot from Michael Ballack. Depite his heroics, Bayern won 2-1.

Meeting of the minds

The rivalry between the teams has often been heated. Munich's Brazilian striker Giovane Elber (left) was usually quite laid back. However, agent provocateur Jens Lehmann even managed to get under his skin. Just before this meeting of the minds, the Dortmund goalkeeper had knocked Elber on his backside.

Cry me a river!

Dortmund's Andreas Möller was another guy who was good at getting under an opponent's skin - sometimes with theatrical swan dives. In this 1997 contest, Bayern's Lothar Matthäus seemed to think he was simply a crybaby.

Kung fu

No, this isn't Jackie Chan, but Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. In this match in April 1999, "King Kahn" seemed to be close to losing it as he charged way beyond his penalty area and lunged at Dortmund striker Stéphane Chapisat with an outstretched right leg. Chapuisat managed to get out of the way in the nick of time and lived to tell the tale.

Busy referee

This April 2001 match was perhaps the most heated of all the battles between two clubs. Referee Hartmut Strampe sent off two Bayern players (Bixente Lizarazu, Stefan Effenberg) and one of their Dortmund opponents (Evanilson) while issuing a total of 13 yellow cards. Between all the fouling that went on, Roque Santa Cruz and Fredi Bobic each managed to score to make it a 1-1 at the end of the 90.

How could he miss?

In August of 1986 Dortmund striker Frank Mill walked around Bayern keeper Jean-Marie Pfaff for what looked to be a certain goal. It remains a mystery to this day how he managed to miss the open goal, but he put his close-range shot off the post in a game that ended 2-2.

Müller-fueled blowout

Gerd "Der Bomber" Müller (second from left) helped lay a beating on Dortmund in November 1971, scoring four goals as Bayern won 11-1. This remains Bayern's highest margin of victory in any Bundesliga game.